While hypocritical politicians, the media and health officials have encouraged people to stay home, hide themselves and even spend the holidays with family members to ‘save grandma’ from a virus that is especially deadly to the elderly, the story has one times a vaccine changes. which was praised by many left and right as a beacon of hope, was manufactured.
Instead of giving preference to those most vulnerable to death if they contract the virus, many state governments have urged older populations to be patient while distributing the vaccine and administering it to leading workers, nursing home residents, inmates and even some teachers. and police officers.
Although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recognizes that people aged 65 and older make up 8 out of 10 deaths from Wuhan viruses, the federal agency has suggested giving the vaccine to those on the front lines and in long-term care facilities first. The CDC later recommended that vaccine doses be assigned to 75 and older at the same time as “about 30 million essential frontline workers,” a large group of people who, according to the New York Times, make up nearly 70 percent of the U.S. workforce. . ”
The consequences of this prioritization are already emerging in the US. Just last week, some politicians and their staff vaulted in front of the queue to receive their first dose of vaccine. Among them was Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who is only 31 years old. Despite criticism from her colleagues and voters about taking the dose, the young representative was unsatisfied with the experience, posting a video of her receiving the vaccine and offering to answer questions about it.
Prisoners and prison workers in certain states, such as New York, are also already receiving preferential treatment to receive the vaccine for the elderly. Even prisoners in Guantánamo Bay will receive the vaccine before some states expand their distribution even further than those in long-term care facilities.
Update: Southcom says the Covid-19 vaccines en route to Guantanamo this month will be administered on a voluntary basis. The prison staff and the prisoners from the war may deteriorate.
– Carol Rosenberg (@carolrosenberg) 4 January 2021
Poor planning by some states and their governors unexpectedly gave some people who did not need the vaccine special opportunities to receive it, after health care providers left extra doses of the vaccine, which had a short shelf life and would be discarded. is if not applied quickly. From Washington, DC, to California, excess unused vaccines have forced those who have been vaccinated to choose between administering a dose to someone who is not in front of the COVID-19 line or taking it away. to throw.
Politicians like New York Governor Andrew Cuomo also contributed to this election crisis by denying New York City the right to vaccinate those 75 years of age and older after severely underutilizing their vaccine supply. Cuomo has threatened to increase fines against healthcare providers who disregard the state’s COVID-19 vaccination prioritization schedule, which vaccinates drug addicts in front of senior citizens, and also hospitals that do not use their vaccine supply before it expires.
NY Gov. Cuomo turned down NYC’s request to vaccinate people 75 years and older, despite the city using only 25% of its Covid vaccine supply pic.twitter.com/41qEqvIUUr
– Eli Klein (@TheEliKlein) 4 January 2021
While many politicians, agencies, and states have failed to implement vaccine vaccinations that help the elderly get the vaccine quickly, others such as Texas and Florida have set aside some of the CDC’s recommendations to ensure that those who are most vulnerable are protected.
Despite the media setback since the beginning of the pandemic, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has taken the lead in these efforts, making it clear that vaccination of older people is needed and the best way to tackle the pandemic.
“If you’re 74 years old in the state of Florida, we’ve decided you should get vaccinated,” DeSantis said. ‘You are eligible and you are a priority, and we will do everything in our power to work with our healthcare partners to ensure that the vaccine reaches you. If you are a 74-year-old in most countries in this country, you currently have no chance of a vaccine; you are not even eligible to be vaccinated according to most of the countries’ guidelines. ”
Jordan Davidson is a staff writer at The Federalist. She graduated from Baylor University where she majored in political science and journalism.